Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K28/00—Welding or cutting not covered by any of the preceding groups, e.g. electrolytic welding
  • B23K28/02—Combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K10/00—Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
  • B23K10/02—Plasma welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K15/00—Electron-beam welding or cutting
  • B23K15/0046—Welding
  • B23K15/0053—Seam welding
  • B23K15/006—Seam welding of rectilinear seams
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/20—Bonding
  • B23K26/21—Bonding by welding
  • B23K26/24—Seam welding
  • B23K26/242—Fillet welding, i.e. involving a weld of substantially triangular cross section joining two parts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/346—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring in combination with welding or cutting covered by groups B23K5/00 - B23K25/00, e.g. in combination with resistance welding
  • B23K26/348—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring in combination with welding or cutting covered by groups B23K5/00 - B23K25/00, e.g. in combination with resistance welding in combination with arc heating, e.g. TIG [tungsten inert gas], MIG [metal inert gas] or plasma welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K9/00—Arc welding or cutting
  • B23K9/16—Arc welding or cutting making use of shielding gas
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K2101/00—Articles made by soldering, welding or cutting
  • B23K2101/18—Sheet panels

Definitions

• the present application relates to methods and apparatuses for welding together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint between the pieces of metal.
• a prior art apparatus may accomplish this by directing the laser beam output 10' from a laser 10 (which may comprise a laser resonator and associated optics) and the electric arc output 12' from a gas metal arc welder 12 at the first side 14a of a joint 14 in order to weld a first piece of metal 16a to a second piece of metal 16b to form the joint.
• a laser 10 which may comprise a laser resonator and associated optics
• the electric arc output 12' from a gas metal arc welder 12 at the first side 14a of a joint 14 in order to weld a first piece of metal 16a to a second piece of metal 16b to form the joint.
• Hybrid laser arc welding may increase both the welding speed and the weld penetration depth as compared to conventional arc welding techniques.
• the resulting weld 18 may be enhanced much more so on the first side 14a of the joint 14, which is the side that the laser beam output 10' and the electric arc output 12' act on, as opposed to an opposite second side 14b of the joint.
• the weld 18 may not extend completely through the joint 14 from the first side 14a to the second side 14b.
• a second portion of the weld 18b may be significantly less thick than a first portion 18a of the weld on the first side 14a of the joint.
• One attempt to make a more symmetric weld on both sides of the joint has been to operate the hybrid laser welder described above on the first side 14a of the joint 14, followed by either moving the hybrid laser welder to the second side 14b of the joint or turning over the pieces of metals 16a, b to direct the laser beam output 10' and the electric arc output 12' against the second side of the joint.
• operating the hybrid laser welder first on the first side 14a of the joint 14 and then the second side 14b of the joint may produce a weld 18' which has been enhanced on both sides of the joint.
• This weld 18' may be more desirable due to it extending more fully and completely from the first side 14a to the second side 14b of the joint 14, which may provide both strength and cosmetic benefits.
• the additional time required to move the hybrid laser welder or rotate the pieces of metal and make two sequential passes with the welding equipment is undesirable.
• An alternate method which has been developed is to provide a hybrid laser welder on each side of the joint.
• This embodiment avoids the disadvantage of requiring movement of the metal pieces or the hybrid laser equipment from one side to the other.
• welding-induced distortion or deformation in this case may be less than the 2- pass sequential welding process mentioned above.
• this solution uses a second laser. Since the lasers used to complete the laser hybrid welding operation may be very expensive, it may be undesirable to operate two separate hybrid laser welders on the joint.
• the present disclosure in one aspect describes a method of welding together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint between the pieces of metal, which may comprise an angle joint.
• the method comprises directing a first output from a high energy density heat source against a first side of the joint to produce a keyhole surrounded by a first molten metal pool which extends from the first side generally toward a second side of the joint, and simultaneously directing a second output from an arc welding heat source against the second side of the joint to produce a second molten metal pool adjacent the second side of the joint.
• the first output is directed such that the keyhole extends to the second molten metal pool, whereby the second molten metal pool is joined with the first molten metal pool by the keyhole to create a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the joint from the first side to the second side.
• the high energy density heat source may comprise a laser, an electron beam gun, or a plasma arc welding torch.
• the arc welding heat source may in some embodiments comprise a gas tungsten arc welding torch, a gas metal arc welding torch, a flux-cored arc welding torch, a submerged arc welding torch, or a plasma arc welding torch.
• at least one of the first output and the second output from the high energy density heat source and the arc welding heat source, respectively, may be discontinuous.
• the method may further comprise directing the first output and the second output such that the first output and the second output form a nonzero angle of incidence with respect to one another.
• the method further comprises directing a third output, which may be discontinuous, from a second arc welding heat source against the first side of the joint.
• the third output from the second arc welding heat source creates a third molten metal pool, which may join with at least the first molten metal pool to form a portion of the common molten metal pool on the first side of the joint.
• the first output from the high energy density heat source may lag behind or lead the third output from the second arc welding heat source.
• a first joint surface on a first one of the pieces of metal and a second joint surface on a second one of the pieces of metal define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap therebetween.
• the angle may be defined by a chamfer on one of the pieces of metal.
• the first output may be directed through the gap to encourage greater penetration through the joint.
• the common molten metal pool may at least partially fill the gap.
• the present disclosure in another aspect describes a welding apparatus configured to weld together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint between the pieces of metal.
• the apparatus comprises a high energy density heat source configured to direct a first output against a first side of the joint to produce a keyhole surrounded by a first molten metal pool which extends from the first side generally toward a second side of the joint.
• the apparatus further comprises an arc welding heat source configured to simultaneously direct a second output against the second side of the joint to produce a second molten metal pool adjacent the second side.
• the first output is directed such that the keyhole extends to the second molten metal pool, whereby the second molten metal pool is joined with the first molten metal pool by the keyhole to create a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the joint from the first side to the second side.
• the present disclosure in a further aspect describes a method of welding an angle joint between a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the first piece of metal has a generally horizontal upper surface and the second piece of metal has a generally horizontal lower surface, wherein at least part of the generally horizontal lower surface of the second piece of metal abuts the upper surface of the first piece of metal to form the angle joint.
• the method comprises directing a first output from a high energy density heat source against a first side of the angle joint to produce a keyhole surrounded by a first molten metal pool which extends from the first side generally toward a second side of the angle joint, and simultaneously directing a second output from an arc welding heat source against the second side of the angle joint to produce a second molten metal pool adjacent the second side.
• the first output is directed such that the keyhole extends to the second molten metal pool, whereby the second molten metal pool is joined with the first molten metal pool by the keyhole to create a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the angle joint from the first side to the second side.
• FIG. 1 a illustrates a prior art hybrid welding apparatus with a laser and a gas metal arc welder operating on a first side of a joint;
• FIG. 1 b illustrates a welded joint which may result from operating the prior art hybrid welding apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 a on the first side of the joint;
• FIG. 1 c illustrates a welded joint which may result from operating the prior art hybrid welding apparatus from FIG. 1 a on both sides of the joint;
• FIG. 2a illustrates a tee-joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal
• FIG. 2b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 2a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 2c illustrates a welded joint which may result from operating the welding apparatus from FIG. 2b on the joint of FIG. 2a;
• FIG. 3a illustrates a corner joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal
• FIG. 3b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 3a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 4a illustrates a skewed tee-joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the second piece of metal leans to the right;
• FIG. 4b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 4a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 5a illustrates a skewed tee-joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the second piece of metal leans to the left
• FIG. 5b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 5a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 6a illustrates a skewed corner joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the second piece of metal leans to the right;
• FIG. 6b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 6a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 7a illustrates a skewed corner joint comprising a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the second piece of metal leans to the left;
• FIG. 7b illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld the joint of FIG. 7a comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld a butt-joint comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint;
• FIG. 9a illustrates a schematic representation of a welding apparatus configured to weld a joint comprising a high energy density heat source on a first side of the joint and an arc welding heat source on a second side of the joint and further a second arc welding heat source on the first side of the joint;
• FIG. 9b illustrates a welded joint which may result from operating the welding apparatus from FIG. 9a on the joint;
• FIG. 10a illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 9a wherein the apparatus is configured to operate on a joint with a first piece of metal that comprises a first joint surface and a second piece of metal that comprises a second joint surface and a third joint surface wherein the first joint surface and the second joint surface define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap therebetween, and wherein the third joint surface is generally parallel with the first joint surface;
• FIG. 10b illustrates a joint with a first piece of metal that comprises a first joint surface and a second piece of metal that comprises a second joint surface wherein the first joint surface and the second joint surface define an angle with respect to one another;
• FIG. 10c illustrates a joint with a first piece of metal that comprises a first joint surface and a second piece of metal that comprises a second joint surface and a third joint surface wherein the first joint surface and the second joint surface define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap therebetween, and wherein the first joint surface and the third joint surface define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a second gap therebetween;
• FIG. 1 1 a illustrates a top view of the welding apparatus of FIG. 2b wherein a first output and a second output are generally directed at the same section of the joint at the same time;
• FIG. 1 1 b illustrates a top view of the welding apparatus of FIG. 2b wherein the first output leads the second output;
• FIG. 1 1 c illustrates a top view of the welding apparatus of FIG. 2b wherein the first output lags behind the second output;
• FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the welding apparatus of FIG. 9a wherein the third output leads the first output
• FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of welding together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint
• FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of welding together an angle joint in a generally horizontal configuration.
• FIG. 2a illustrates a first piece of metal 1 16a and a second piece of metal 1 16b which are positioned so as to form a joint 1 14.
• FIG. 2b illustrates a corresponding embodiment of a welding apparatus 100 configured to weld together the first 1 16a and second 1 16b pieces of metal at the joint 1 14.
• the welding apparatus 100 includes a high energy density heat source 1 10 configured to direct a first output 1 10' against a first side 1 14a of the joint.
• the first output 1 10' thereby produces a keyhole 122 (which may alternatively be referred to as a channel ) surrounded by a first molten metal pool 120a comprising metal from the first piece of metal 1 16a and/or the second piece of metal 1 16b.
• Both the keyhole 122 and the first molten metal pool 120a extend from the first side 1 14a of the joint 1 14 generally toward a second side 1 14b of the joint.
• the first molten metal pool 120a may comprise vapors and/or liquids produced by heating the first piece of metal 1 16a and the second piece of metal 1 16b with the first output 1 10' from the high energy density heat source 1 10. Further, a filler material may be added in some embodiments to feed into the first molten metal pool 120a for a larger weld.
• the apparatus may simultaneously direct a second output 1 12' from an arc welding heat source 1 12 against the second side 1 14b of the joint 1 14 to produce a second molten metal pool 120b adjacent the second side.
• the first output 1 10' from the high energy density heat source 1 10 is directed such that the keyhole 122 extends to the second molten metal pool 120b, such that it may connect with a lower portion of the second molten metal pool.
• the second molten metal pool 120b may be joined with the first molten metal pool 120a by the keyhole 122 to create a common molten metal pool 120 extending substantially across the joint 1 14.
• the common molten metal pool 120 solidifies, as illustrated in FIG. 2c, it may form a weld 1 18 extending completely through the joint 1 14 from the first side 1 14a to the second side 1 14b of the joint 1 14.
• the keyhole may improve the fluid flow in the between the first molten metal pool and the second molten metal pool so that a more stable common molten metal pool is created.
• thermomechanical stabilization of the arc produced by the arc welding heat source may occur, which may contribute to the production of a stronger and more precise weld with less weld defects. Accordingly, relatively fast welding speeds may be used.
• a desired weld profile may be obtained as well by optimizing the welding parameters, including the alignment of the laser beam, joint position, and the arc welding torch.
• the high energy density heat source 1 10 may comprise a variety of different sources of high energy density heat in the form of the first output 1 10'.
• the high energy density heat source 1 10 may comprise a laser which produces a laser beam first output 1 10'.
• the high energy density heat source 1 10 may comprise an electron beam gun which produces an electron beam first output 1 10'.
• the high energy density heat source 1 10 may comprise a plasma arc torch which produces a transferred plasma arc first output 1 10'.
• additional embodiments of high energy density heat sources 1 10 may also be used so long as they can produce the keyhole 122 through the joint 1 14.
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may comprise a variety of different sources of heat.
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may comprise a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) torch which produces an arc second output 1 12'.
• GMAW gas metal arc welding
• the GMAW torch may comprise a metal inert gas (MIG) welding torch or a metal active gas (MAG) welding torch, and metal transfer may involve globular, short- circuiting, spray or pulse-spray, in some embodiments.
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may comprise a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) torch, a flux- cored arc welding (FCAW) torch, a submerged arc welding (SAW) torch, or a plasma arc welding (PAW) torch which may operate in transferred or non-transferred modes.
• GTAW gas tungsten arc welding
• FCAW flux- cored arc welding
• SAW submerged arc welding
• PAW plasma arc welding
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may or may not use a shielding gas or wire feeder.
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may comprise many of the known types of welding devices, so long as the welding device is capable of producing the second molten metal pool 120b.
• the arc welding heat source 1 12 may comprise a high energy density heat source such as a plasma arc torch, as described above, so long as it produces the second molten metal pool 120b. Therefore, in terms of distinguishing characteristics, the arc welding heat source 1 12 produces at least the second molten metal pool 120b, whereas the high energy density heat source 1 10 produces at least the first molten metal pool 120a and the keyhole 122.
• first output and/or the second output may also be continuous or discontinuous.
• first output 1 10' may be continuous wave, pulsed, defocused, focused, oscillated, split, or elongated depending on the type of high energy density heat source 1 10 used and the application.
• multiple high energy density heat sources 1 10 and/or multiple arc welding heat sources 1 12 may be used in some embodiments.
• the joint between the pieces of metal which are welded together may comprise a number of different configurations.
• the pieces of metal may form an angle joint.
• Angle joints refer to tee-joints 1 14 (see FIGS. 2a-c), corner joints 214 (see FIGS. 3a-b), skewed tee-joints 314 (see FIGS. 4a-b and 5a-b), skewed corner joints 414 (see FIGS 6a-b and 7a-b), and other joints in which two or more pieces of metal join such that they create an angle with respect to one another.
• the joints When the joints are skewed, they may be skewed in various directions such as to the right as illustrated in FIGS 4a-b and 6a-b, or to the left as illustrated in FIGS. 5a-b and 7a-b.
• the angle joints 1 14, 214, 314, 414 are oriented as illustrated in FIGS.
• the first piece of metal 1 16a, 216a, 316a, 416a has a generally horizontal upper surface 1 16a', 216a', 316a', 416a' and the second piece of metal 1 16b, 216b, 316b, 416b has a generally horizontal lower surface 1 16b', 216b', 316b', 416b', wherein at least part of the generally horizontal lower surface of the second piece of metal abuts the upper surface of the first piece of metal to form the angle joint.
• the welding apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400 may be oriented such that the first output 1 10', 210', 310', 410' from the high energy density heat source 1 10, 210, 310, 410 may be directed such that the keyhole 122, 222, 322, 422 extends to a point 122', 222', 322', 422' just in the lower portion of the second molten metal pool 120b, 220b, 320b, 420b produced by the second output 1 12', 212', 312', 412' from the arc welding heat source 1 12, 212, 312, 412.
• the second molten metal pool 120b, 220b, 320b, 420b may join with the first molten metal pool 120a, 220a, 320a, 420a to form a common molten metal pool 120, 220, 320, 420.
• welding positions for the joint.
• various combinations of flat welding positions (known as "1 F"), horizontal welding positions (known as “2F”), and overhead welding positions (known as "4F") of the pieces of metal may be used.
• the first output and the second output may still be oriented such that the first output and the second output form a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to one another.
• Non-zero angle of incidence is not intended to be limited to instances in which the first output and the second output directly intersect, because in some embodiments, as will be described below, the first output and second output may lead or lag one another. Rather this terminology further includes embodiments in which the first output and the second output generally define an angle with respect to one another as viewed through a cross-section through the joint.
• Configurations in which the first output and the second output form a non-zero angle of incidence may be preferable, as compared to directing the first output directly at the second molten metal pool, in order to avoid blowing out the second molten metal pool with the first output.
• the second molten metal pool may provide for a relatively larger and stronger weld, so the first output may be directed such that it does not force the second molten metal pool away from the joint.
• the first output may be directed so that the keyhole extends to a fusion boundary of the second molten metal pool.
• the keyhole may extend to the bottom of the second molten metal pool, or the keyhole may extend to a lower portion of the second molten metal pool, so as to avoid blowing out the second molten pool.
• the first output may be of such a strength that it substantially only reaches the boundary of the second molten metal pool, without extending completely therethrough.
• first 516a and second 516b pieces of metal may be welded such that their ends join together to form the butt-joint 514.
• the welding apparatus 500 configured to weld the butt-joint 514 may generally remain the same, with a high energy density heat source 510 directing a first output 510' against a first side 514a of the butt-joint 514 to create a keyhole 522 surrounded by a first molten metal pool 520a which extends from the first side of the butt- joint generally toward a second side 514b of the butt-joint.
• the welding apparatus 500 may simultaneously direct a second output 512' from an arc welding heat source 512 against the second side 514b of the butt-joint 514 to produce a second molten metal pool 520b adjacent the second side of the butt-joint. Accordingly, the first molten metal pool 520a and the second molten metal pool 520b may join to form a common molten metal pool 520 by way of the keyhole 522.
• embodiments of the welding apparatus include a high energy density heat source and an arc welding heat source.
• some embodiments may further comprise a two or more arc welding heat sources.
• the high energy density heat source 910 may direct the first output 910' against a first side 914a of the joint 914 between first 916a and second 916b pieces of metal and the arc welding heat source 912 may direct the second output 912' against a second side 914b of the joint in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiments of welding apparatuses comprising only a high energy density heat source and an arc welding heat source.
• the 9a further includes a second arc welding heat source 928 which directs a third output 928' against the first side 914a of the joint 914.
• the third output 928' from the second arc welding heat source 928 may be discontinuous or continuous.
• the second arc welding heat source 928 may comprise various embodiments of arc welding devices such as GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW, or PAW torches as described above with respect to the arc welding heat source.
• the third output 928' may form a third molten metal pool 920c which may combine with the first molten metal pool 920a and the second molten metal pool 920b to form a common molten metal pool 920.
• the common molten metal pool 920 may thereby solidify to form a weld 918, as illustrated in FIG. 9b, that may comprise more material on the first side 914a of the joint 914 as compared to the weld 1 18 produced by the welding apparatus 100 without the second arc welding heat source (see, e.g., FIG. 2c).
• first output 910' may stabilize the third output 928' and the third molten metal pool 920c and a manner similar to the way in which it stabilizes the second output 912' and the second molten metal pool 920b.
• Embodiments of the welding apparatus may also weld joints wherein the surfaces of the pieces of metal that are in proximity at the joint at least partially form an angle with one another.
• a first joint surface on a first one of the pieces of metal and a second joint surface on a second one of the pieces of metal define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap therebetween. Examples of such embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 10a-c.
• FIG. 10a illustrates an embodiment of a welding apparatus 600 configured to weld a joint 614.
• the joint 614 comprises a first piece of metal 616a and a second piece of metal 616b.
• the first piece of metal 616a comprises a first joint surface 616a' and the second piece of metal 616b comprises a second joint surface 616b' and a third joint surface 616b".
• the first piece of metal 616a and the second piece of metal 616b may be aligned such that the first joint surface 616a' and the second joint surface 616b'define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap 624
• the high energy density heat source 610 may be aimed such that the first output 610' is directed through the gap 624, and the second output 612 may be aimed at the opposite side of the joint 614, as previously described. Aiming the first output 610' through the gap 624 may be desirable in some embodiments because the high energy density heat source 610 may require less power.
• the welding apparatus 600 may further comprise a third output 928' from a second arc welding heat source 928 in order to assist in filling the gap 624 completely with a common molten pool.
• the first output 610' from a high energy density heat source may lead or lag the third output 928' slightly to reduce the power level required for operation of the high energy density heat source.
• the third joint surface 616b" on the second piece of metal 616b may be configured such that it is generally parallel with the first joint surface 616a' on the first piece of metal 616a.
• FIG. 10b illustrates an embodiment of a joint 714 wherein the second piece of metal 716b does not comprise a third joint surface. Rather, the gap 724 is formed between a first joint surface 716a' on the first piece of metal 716a and a second joint surface 716b' on the second piece of metal 716b.
• the joint 814 may define more than one gap.
• the embodiment in FIG. 10c defines a gap 824 between a first joint surface 816a' on a first piece of metal 816a and a second joint surface 816b' on a second piece of metal 816b and further a second gap 826 defined between the first joint surface and a third joint surface 816b" on the second piece of metal.
• the second gap 826 may thus generally be located on the opposite side of the second piece of metal 816b from the gap 824.
• Two gaps, 824 and 826 may have a same profile in some embodiment. However, they may have different profiles in some other embodiments.
• the arc welding heat source may direct the second output towards the second gap such that the second molten metal pool is received therein.
• Receiving the second molten metal pool in the second gap may provide benefits in terms of aesthetics and also the second gap may function to hold the second molten metal pool in place and may reduce the required power level of the first output as well because the keyhole generated from the first output has a shorter distance to penetrate.
• each gap may be defined by a chamfer on the first or second piece of metal.
• the chamfers may be created by a variety of manufacturing techniques such as sheared edge, laser cut edge, single bevel edge, plasma cut edge, or double bevel edge.
• the angle defining the gap may be created by tilting a square edged piece of metal against the other piece of metal. In such embodiments the first piece of metal and the second piece of metal will not be perfectly perpendicular to one another.
• first piece of metal may define the angle, such as when the first piece of metal comprises a chamfer.
• first piece of metal and the second piece of metal may comprise features which define the angle.
• first piece of metal and the second piece of metal may comprise respective chamfers.
• each joint surface shown and described above were generally described as comprising flat surfaces, in alternate embodiments the joint surfaces may be curved surfaces. Additionally or alternatively, each joint surface may comprise multiple segments such that the gap is defined by multiple angles. Regardless of the particular features comprising the angle(s) and corresponding gap, each of the above-described embodiments are intended to be included within the meaning of generally horizontal, as previously described, depending on the orientation of the joint. Thus, for example, although the second joint surface 816b' and the third surface 816b" of the joint 814 illustrated in FIG. 10c are not perfectly horizontal, this configuration is intended to be included within the meaning of generally horizontal as described above.
• FIG. 1 1 a illustrates a top view of the welding apparatus 100 of FIG. 2b which is configured to weld the joint 1 14 along a machine direction 130. Welding in the machine direction 130 may involve either or both of moving the welding apparatus 100 or the pieces of metal 1 16a, b.
• first output 1 10' from the high energy density heat source 1 10 and the second output 1 12' from the arc welding heat source 1 12 may be directed such that they generally align in the machine direction 130 such that first output and the second output are generally directed at the same section of the joint 1 14 at the same time. Therefore, the keyhole 122 is generally directed toward the center of the second molten metal pool 120b as viewed from above.
• FIG. 1 1 b illustrates an embodiment of the welding apparatus 100 from FIG. 2b in which the first output 1 10' leads the second output 1 12' in the machine direction 130.
• FIG. 1 1 c illustrates an embodiment of the welding apparatus 100 from FIG. 2b in which the first output 1 10' lags behind the second output 1 12' in the machine direction 130.
• the first output 1 10' may initially lag behind the second output 1 12', but then the second output may lead the first output later in the weld, or the opposite may occur. This could be the case, for example, when the high energy density heat source 1 10 travels along the joint 1 14 at a faster speed than the arc welding heat source 1 12, or vice versa.
• first output 1 10' creates the keyhole 122 at a position which overlaps along the machine direction with the second molten metal pool 120b as created by the second output 1 12' such that the second molten metal pool may join with the first molten metal pool 120a to form the common molten metal pool 120.
• first output 910', second output 912', and third output 928' are directed at the joint 914 simultaneously, similarly as to the welding apparatus 100 described above.
• first output 910' may lead or lag the second output 912'
• third output 928' may lead or lag the second output
• the third output may lead or lag the first output along a machine direction 930 of welding the joint.
• FIG. 12 an overhead view of the welding apparatus 900 is illustrated in FIG. 12. In this embodiment the first output 910' lags behind the third output 928'.
• This embodiment may allow the first output 910' from the high energy density heat source 910 to push the third molten metal pool 920c as provided by the second arc welding heat source 912 into the keyhole 922.
• this may facilitate joining the third molten metal pool with the first molten metal pool 920a and the second molten metal pool 920b to form the common molten metal pool 920. Accordingly, creation of a strong weld may be encouraged.
• FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a method of welding together a plurality of pieces of metal at a joint between the pieces of metal.
• the method comprises directing a first output from a high energy density heat source against a first side of the joint at operation 1 102.
• the high energy density heat source may in some embodiments comprise a laser, electron beam gun, or PAW torch in some embodiments, as indicated at block 1 104.
• the first output thereby produces a keyhole surrounded by a first molten metal pool which extends from the first side generally toward a second side of the joint as indicated at block 1 106.
• the method further comprises simultaneously directing a second output from an arc welding heat source against the second side of the joint at operation 1 108.
• the arc welding heat source may in some embodiments comprise a GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW, or PAW torch in some embodiments, as indicated at block 1 1 10.
• the second output thereby produces a second molten metal pool adjacent the second side.
• the first output is directed such that the keyhole extends to the second molten metal pool at block 1 1 14.
• the second molten metal pool is joined with the first molten metal pool by the keyhole.
• the method creates a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the joint from the first side to the second side at block 1 1 18.
• the joint may comprise an angle joint, as indicated at block 1 120. Additionally in some embodiments a first joint surface on a first one of the pieces of metal and a second joint surface on a second one of the pieces of metal may define an angle with respect to one another such that there is a gap therebetween, as indicated at block 1 122. As shown at block 1 124, the angle may be defined by a chamfer on one of the pieces of metal. Further, as indicated at block 1 126, the first output may be directed through the gap. In some embodiments the common molten metal pool may at least partially fill the gap, as indicated at block 1 128.
• the method may comprise the operation 1 130 of directing the first output and the second output such that the first output and the second output form a non- zero angle of incidence with respect to one another or the first output may be directed at a lower portion of the second molten metal pool to avoid blowing out the second molten metal pool as described above.
• the method may further comprise the operation 1 132 of directing a third output from a second arc welding heat source against the first side of the joint, which produces a third molten metal pool, as indicated at block 1 134.
• the third molten metal pool may thereby join with at least the first molten metal pool to form the common molten metal pool.
• the first output lags behind or leads the third output, as indicated at block 1 138.
• the second arc welding heat source may comprise a GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SAW, or PAW torch.
• the first output, the second output, and/or the third output may be discontinuous.
• FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a method of welding an angle joint between a first piece of metal and a second piece of metal, wherein the first piece of metal has a generally horizontal upper surface and the second piece of metal has a generally horizontal lower surface, and wherein at least part of the first piece of the generally horizontal lower surface of the second piece of metal abuts the upper surface of the first piece of metal to form the angle joint.
• An angle joint as described above, may comprise tee-joints, corner joints, skewed tee-joints, skewed corner joints, and other joints in which two pieces of metal join to such that they create an angle with respect to one another. The two pieces may or may not have a small gap in between in some cases.
• the method comprises directing a first output from a high energy density heat source against a first side of the angle joint at operation 1202.
• the first output thereby produces a first molten metal pool in a keyhole extending from the first side generally toward a second side of the angle joint as indicated at block 1206.
• the method further comprises simultaneously directing a second output from an arc welding heat source against the second side of the angle joint at operation 1208.
• the second output thereby produces a second molten metal pool adjacent the second side of the angle joint.
• the first output may be directed such that the keyhole extends to a point just in the lower portion of the second molten metal pool as indicated at block 1214. This may avoid blowing out the second molten metal pool, such as may occur when the first output is directed at the center or upper portion of the second molten metal pool, while still allowing for fluid communication between the second molten metal pool and the first molten metal pool.
• the second molten metal pool is joined with the first molten metal pool by the keyhole.
• this creates a common molten metal pool which solidifies to form a weld extending through the angle joint from the first side to the second side as indicated at block 1218. Accordingly, methods particularly relating to welding angle joints are also provided.

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• 2010
  • 2010-02-18 US US12/708,249 patent/US8729424B2/en active Active
• 2011
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